Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali has become the first man to win back-to-back gold medals in the 3,000m steeplechase since the Berlin 1936 Olympics. El Bakkali took the lead in the home straight, just after the fall of his rival Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma. Girma, who fell on the final lap, was attended to by medical officials who stretchered him off the track and took him to the hospital. Paris 2024 officials stated that they are in close contact with Ethiopian Olympic officials regarding his condition. El Bakkali, a two-time world champion, won with a time of 8:06.05, mirroring Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo’s back-to-back wins in 1932 and 1936.

Source: Ethiopian News August 08, 2024 17:22 UTC